MACOM announced that they have initiated legal action against Infineon Technologies and International Rectifier (acquired by Infineon in 2015), to defend its rights to use the pioneering and patented gallium nitride on silicon (GaN) technology developed by Nitronex (acquired by MACOM in 2014) in MACOM’s core markets. GaN is a next-generation technology that promises to improve network data service and cell coverage of 4G/LTE and 5G basestations while reducing their energy consumption and associated carbon footprint.
In the suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, MACOM alleges that Infineon has attempted to interfere with and usurp MACOM’s rights under certain agreements between Nitronex and International Rectifier.
Their suit against Infineon includes claims for breach of contract, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, declaratory judgment of contractual rights, and intentional interference with contract. Among other relief, MACOM is asking the court to grant MACOM declaratory and injunctive relief confirming its rights under the Nitronex-IR agreements and ordering Infineon to assign to MACOM several Nitronex GaN patents.Defending its intellectual property rights is core to MACOM’s success and MACOM has previously prevailed against large company infringement of its rights.
According to John Croteau, President and Chief Executive Officer of MACOM, problems started when Infineon acquired IR and began to try to ‘renegotiate’ the Nitronex-IR agreements to reduce MACOM’s rights. And When MACOM declined to accede to Infineon’s demands, Infineon concocted claims to interfere with our rights under the agreements. Such business practices are unethical and anti-competitive and we strenuously oppose them.
Croteau said, “Infineon’s behavior is clear validation that MACOM’s GaN technology – the product of 15 years and over $100 million in investment – is at the tipping point of market adoption, threatening large incumbents like Infineon. We believe this has caused Infineon to engage in strong-arm tactics designed to retard, rather than accelerate, innovation.”
